Willie Oscar Brown Sr., 89, was called home to be with Jesus and his beloved wife, Betty on Sunday, March 17, 2024. A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2024, at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel, 801-19th Street in West Des Moines, IA 50265 with burial at Glendale Cemetery.
Willie was born in Whiteville, Louisiana, on June 14, 1934, to Perkins and Annie (Green) Brown. He married Betty Jean Sterling on September 28, 1956. Willie and Betty moved to Des Moines, Iowa, in the early 1960’s. Willie founded and operated, alongside his brother, Pinnell Brown, Brown Brother’s Fencing which served all of Iowa, extending throughout the Midwest.
Willie was a strong, caring, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who left an amazing legacy. His hard-working reputation was earned making him a person many strived to emulate. “Hurry up, we are burning daylight” was one of his many famous lines.
He was affectionately known as Dad by his kids, and Papa and Great Papa to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His passions included, country music, gardening, westerns, welding, coffee, trucks, engineering, storytelling, barbecuing, operating skid loaders as well as all things construction.
Willie was preceded in his passing by his soulmate and wife of 65 years, Betty Jean; parents, Perkins and Annie Brown; brothers, William Charles Gorell, Alcee Gorell, Perkins Brown Jr., Larry Brown, and Pinnell Brown; sisters, Anniewise Alford and Nettie Mae Ross.
Willie is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth (Burnard) Scott; sons, Eric (Angie) Brown, Jason (Kim) Brown, and Willie (Charlene) Brown Jr.; grandchildren, Devan and Tristan Brown, Morgan (Alex) Harken, James (Fatima) Young, James (Lahana) and Jacob McDermott, Jordan Hall; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Elsie Mae Hoston and Wilma Lee Daniels; and his many beloved nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to https://gofund.me/d5e6718f
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